Many, if not all of us, are guilty of eating what we want without really knowing what’s going into our bodies. We eat and drink what sounds good and what tastes the best without even thinking about the consequences. Getting smarter about what you eat will help you live a healthier lifestyle and feel great while doing it.

Starbuck’s Double Chocolate Chip Frappuccino

Let’s face it, we all love Starbucks. Personally, nothing on Starbucks menu sounds better than a big chocolate Frappuccino. Most of us can guess that these frappuccinos aren’t the best option for our health, but here’s what you might not know. The Double Chocolate Chip Frappuccino gives you a whopping one-third of the maximum fat you should consume in a whole day. It also delivers over half a day’s saturated fat. If you’re really craving a frappuccino, try a Coffee Frappuccino Light Blended Coffee, which has 380 less calories, 18.5 less grams of fat, and 43 less grams of sugar.

Margarine vs. Butter

Many people opt for margarine instead of butter because of it being cholesterol free. However, according to The Natural Health Hub website, margarine contains far too many trans-fats, therefore elevating cholesterol and possibly damaging your blood vessel walls. If you can’t seem to give up butter, try an unsalted whipped butter, which only has 67 calories per tablespoon while regular butter contains 102. If you’re stuck on margarine, try Smart Balance Light or Promise light. These both contain 45 calories per tablespoon and no trans-fat. When you’re craving butter or margarine use small amounts or even try using a little jam and nut butter instead.

Frozen Meals

Those frozen meals that you eat on busy nights may seem small and harmless, but they can be loaded with calories. According to Livestrong.com, one popular brand of chicken pot pie contains 1,020 calories per serving, not far away from the amount of calories your body needs for the whole day. I, myself, have been guilty of eating a chicken pot pie containing 800 calories in a portion about the size of my hand.

Yogurt

While many of us view yogurt as a healthy snack, Yoplait yogurt is found to have 29 grams of sugar, the equivalent of 1 ½ Twinkies. Next time you’re craving a healthy yogurt snack, try plain Greek yogurt. Add your own berries or a small amount of honey to sweeten it up without sabotaging your health.

Salad Kits

Lynn Andriani states that bottled salad dressing is one of the top sources of fat in a woman’s diet. Sure, salad seems like a healthy option, but salad dressing is unusually high in calories and fat. Salad Kits contain big servings of dressing, along with shaved cheese and croutons, which take away from the healthy benefits of a salad. Try spinach salad (very low in calories) with chopped carrots and tomatoes instead of cheese and croutons. Add a light caeser dressing instead of a creamy dressing, or even balsamic vinegar, which only has 5 calories per tablespoon.

Tuna Fish Sandwich

Although tuna seems like it would make a light lunch, the average tuna sandwich in a restaurant contains around 700 calories. So where are all the calories coming from? The mayonnaise. Mayonnaise has around 100 calories per tablespoon. Want a healthier option? A tuna sandwich doesn’t have to be smothered in mayo. Try mixing your tuna with tomatoes, onions, and a little balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Use whole wheat bread and take hundreds of calories away from your tuna sandwich.

Granola Bars

The Quaker Oats True Delights Bar has about the same amount of fat and calories as a snickers bar. And this isn’t uncommon for a granola bar. Almost all commercial granola bars contain way too much sugar. Many granola bars come with added sugar and calories to keep them sweet and full of flavor. Before you choose your brand of granola bars, look at the label. Not all granola bars are as healthy as they seem. Grab one with low-calories, low-sugar, and high-fiber.

Veggie Chips/Straws

Sure, veggie chips seem like a much smarter alternative to potato chips. However, don’t be deceived. Many brands are about equal in calories, fat, and nutrients to regular potato chips. This snack only contains about 10 fewer calories per serving than average potato chips. Try snacking on fresh vegetables throughout the day with no added ingredients. Carrots are a great and easy snack, and provide you with way more nutrients and far fewer calories than any kind of chips.

Muffins

Muffins may seem like a healthy option for the perfect breakfast or snack break, but many of them are loaded with calories, unhealthy fats, flour, and added sugars. Even bran muffins, seemingly healthy, pack around 500 calories per muffin. Regularly sized strawberry or chocolate muffins can pack around 800 calories per muffin. One Winchell’s Cranberry Nut Muffin contains the same amount of calories as four Winchell’s Chocolate Cake Doughnuts, and the same amount of fat as three hot dogs.

Smoothies

Smoothies can be a great way to get a serving of fruits and vegetables, but can also be packed with calories. When ordering a smoothie, you shouldn’t see many more ingredients than fresh fruit/veggies, juice or low fat milk, and ice. Most smoothie places are guilty of adding ice cream, sugar, and sweetened juice/fruit to your smoothie, bumping up the calories and fat. Try making smoothies at home for a healthier option. Blending nothing but a banana and an orange makes a delicious smoothie full of fruit with no added sugars or ingredients that pack empty calories.

There are always ways to make a meal, a snack, or a drink healthier. Good food doesn’t have to be packed with harmful or fattening ingredients. Be good to yourself and live a healthier lifestyle by taking away the sugars and fats that you don’t need. Eating healthy is delicious, rewarding, and fun.

Sources:

http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20307363_3,00.html

http://www.rd.com/slideshows/the-worst-foods-you-can-eat/#slideshow=slide6

http://www.totalbeauty.com/content/gallery/fattening-foods/p113012/page3

http://www.oprah.com/food/Unhealthy-Healthy-Foods-Fattening-Foods

http://www.foxnews.com/story/2007/12/11/10-healthy-foods-that-arent-so-healthy/

http://www.cracked.com/article_18549_8-health-foods-that-are-bad-your-health.html

http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/slideshow.asp?show=28

http://blog.foodnetwork.com/healthyeats/2009/03/25/butter-alternatives/